Chapter 15

It was a mild, rainless day and Bo finally got the courage to ask Jane a question. He waited until they were having lunch in the Dining Hall, just the two of them. He had seen the others earlier, but other than carefree Ahmon, Lynne and Naz seemed preoccupied in their own thoughts.

When he was finished eating, Bo put down his fork and gave a small cough. Jane looked up from her book, one that she'd borrowed from Lynne, and smiled at him. She had a tendency to read while she was eating since she was eager to learn as much as she could before they departed the Inn.

"Something on your mind?" She asked sweetly.

"U-uh sort of..."

Jane bent the corner of the page she had been reading and shut the book so she could give the young Orc her undivided attention. He looked nervous, as he avoided looking directly at her and struggled to come up with the right words.

"P-perhaps it would be better in private," Bo finally managed.

"Okay."

Jane got up from the table and patiently waited for Bo to follow suit. They slowly walked back towards their room. When they were alone, Bo took a seat at the edge of the bed, and Jane followed suit.

"Is something wrong?" Jane inquired curiously, and Bo shook his head.

"No... nothing's wrong. I-I just uh... I had- have... a question."

Jane was quiet. She peered at him with her soft green eyes. Bo couldn't look at her, because he knew if he did he'd get lost in them. He stared down at his hands while he spoke.

"I-I just wondered..." Bo's words faltered, and he paused.

"Do you ever think about where you came from?" He finally asked.

It wasn't what he wanted to say, and he silently cursed himself for being such a coward.

"Oh..." Jane was silent for a moment, and then she shrugged. "I guess a little bit. I just don't remember much so I figure there's no point in being sad about it."

Jane knew Bo wasn't asking her the question that burned on his lips, but she played along anyway. She never knew how patient she could be until she met the introverted Orc. It could be frustrating at times, but Jane tried to tell herself 'in due time' whenever she felt her patience growing a little thin.

He's a young guy, who's traveled all across Cyrodiil by himself. I have to remember that, and if my assumptions are correct... he's completely inexperienced with women. It's terribly endearing.

"I only ask," Bo continued quickly, as he figured out his new topic, "because I would hate for you to feel obligated to stay with me if you want to try and find your family."

"That's sweet of you Bo," Jane replied, and she smiled at him. "I appreciate your concern. I promise, if I want to find my family, I'll say it. Okay?"

"Okay."

Jane leaned forward, and before Bo could react, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek. The effect was immediate. His cheeks turned completely dark, and he nervously rubbed at his arm as his mind struggled to comprehend what she had done.

Jane got up from the bed. She decided not to torture him any further and quickly left the room to find Lynne and speak with her. While she was gone, Bo laid down on his back and stared up at the ceiling for a long time, reveling in the sensation of Jane's impossibly soft lips on his skin. He eventually drifted asleep for a little while, and dreamt of many things, including a pretty girl with soft green eyes and a dragon that breathed ice.

Nazgurat sat by the fire later that evening, and this time Ahmon had joined him. The pair sat in comfortable silence for a while, and they chatted here and there about various things. At some point, the topic turned to a certain Nord, which Ahmon was deeply curious about.

"I see you going to her room more often than you come to mine," Ahmon teased, and Nazgurat shot him a glare from across the table.

"What's going on with you two?" Ahmon pressed, feeling curious.

The Orc sighed.

"Must you know everything?"

"No," the young man responded lightly, "But between you and Lynne, and Bo and Jane... I'm the odd one out. I gotta have my fun somehow."

Nazgurat rolled his eyes as the Nord laughed and clinked his mug against his, but he was struggling not to smile.

"I don't know what to tell you, there's not much going on."

"There's a lot more going on than you care to admit, you mean."

"There's..." Naz sighed in defeat. "There's something about her. I can't describe it, and I don't understand what I'm feeling at all..."

"Been a while since you've fancied anyone huh?"

"You could say that," Naz grunted, and he took a deep drink from his mug.

"Well cheer up, friend." Ahmon grinned, and he clapped Naz's shoulder hard. "That's what it's all about. Sometimes it can't be explained."

"Yeah, yeah..." Naz downed the rest of his mead and slid the mug away from him. "Next round's yours."

While Bo continued to take his walks outside over the next couple of days, the others were gathering resources that would last them until they reached Whiterun. Their rations were rather thin, but if they were careful, everything that had between the five of them would last. Jane wasn't looking forward to more beef jerky and sleeping on the cold ground, but her excitement to see Whiterun and everything inside the city overrode her displeasure of traveling. She knew it would take more time to get accustomed to being so active.

It was later in the evening when everybody gathered for drinks and food. They chatted among one another, and as the night wore on more drinks were consumed and some stories were swapped.

Lynne sat quietly beside Nazgurat, who had mostly ignored her, and she idly ran her finger along the mug that sat before her. She wasn't listening to any particular conversation, as she was growing tired until her ears picked up on her name being mentioned.

"Mercenary work sounds dangerous," Jane commented.

"Why don't you ask Lynne what she did for a living before she became a healer," Nazgurat's voice floated over to her. "I'd say it was quite more dangerous than what I did."

Jane, Bo, and Ahmon eyed her curiously, but Lynne was furious. Her face grew red, and she tightly gripped her mug with both hands.

"I'd rather... not say."

"Why not? It can't be that bad," Naz teased, and Lynne shot him an icy glare.

"No thanks. I think I'll retire to my room. Goodnight."

Lynne abruptly stood up from the table and rushed out from the dining hall. Jane watched her go, feeling confused by the way Nazgurat interacted with her.

"You know," Jane started, and everyone looked at her. "That wasn't very nice of you, Nazgurat."

The older Orc blinked, not used to being confronted so openly. His shoulders dipped ever so slightly, and he sighed.

"I guess not."

"What is it about men feeling the need to be big bullies when interacting with women?"

Ahmon laughed and gently patted Jane's shoulder. Beside her, Bo was quiet. He had nothing to offer the conversation, and so he silently took a drink of his ale.

"I don't think that question will ever be answered," Ahmon replied lightly, smiling.

"Well, it's terribly rude and has the opposite effect. You should apologize."

"Alright, alright..." Naz grumbled.

He tipped his mug back and drank the last of his mead before slamming it down on the table. Then he stood up from his chair still grumbling and made his way out from the dining hall. When he reached Lynne's room, he didn't bother knocking again and simply entered.

"Hello!" Lynne shouted, and she balled her hands into fists. "I sure am getting tired of you barging in!"

"Why wouldn't you tell them you're an ex-assassin?" Naz asked curtly, and Lynne's eyes widened.

"What in the world..." She started, and then she shook her head. "You're driving me absolutely crazy. Why would I ever tell those people what I used to be?"

"Because they like you and want to know you better."

"I-I... it's not that simple..."

"It is," Naz continued angrily. "It really is that simple. What is so hard for you to understand. You cannot keep a company of friends without being able to trust them. Can we trust you?"

"I don't know," Lynne groaned, and she covered her face with both hands.

"Can you trust us?"

"I don't know!"

"Is it because of what Astrid did? When she betrayed you? You think everybody is out to stab you in the back?"

Lynne was silent. Her arms were crossed, and it took everything she had not to cry again. She didn't like how vulnerable the Orc made her feel.

"What if it is? Why does it matter to you? It's my past."

"Your past is affecting your life now."

"Why do you speak to me like this? I'm sure you're no better than me. I might have been an assassin but you were a hired murderer as well."

She wanted to get him back, but it didn't have the desired effect. Nazgurat stepped closer, and he towered over the slim Nord. He stared down at her with his blood red eyes, but his expression was not unkind.

"I am the farthest thing from Divine," he responded slowly, his voice deep and gravelly. "I see a woman who is hurt, pretending to be a hea-"

"Shut up!" Lynne muttered, and she glared up at him.

"Astrid is dead, Lynne. She cannot hurt you anymore!"

A loud crack echoed in the room as Lynne brought the palm of her pale white hand across Nazgurat's face. She regretted her actions the moment it happened, and her shoulders sank as she realized what she had done. She opened her mouth to apologize but the Orc was too quick.

In an instant he moved forward, sweeping her against the wall. He held one of her arms pinned against the cool wood, and he stared down at her with a stormy expression. Lynne's heart raced, and a tremor of fear coursed through her.

He wouldn't hurt me, would he? Her mind screamed.

Nazgurat stared at her for one long moment, and his eyes flickered between her ice blue orbs and Lynne's soft, pale lips.

Before Lynne knew it, the Orc dipped his head towards her, and their lips came crashing together in a furious kiss. It took her breath away, and for a moment Lynne was completely stunned, and then she quickly kissed him back. His hands roughly roamed her body as they embraced, and a small growl escaped from deep in his throat.

As soon as it had happened, Nazgurat quickly pulled back and turned away from her. He left Lynne's room, closing the door behind him as he went, leaving Lynne breathless and dazed. She stayed where she was, leaning against the wall, and her entire body tingled from the aftermath of her encounter.

When her breathing had finally gotten under control, Lynne brushed the front of her robe with a shaky hand and took a deep breath. She left her room and returned to the Dining Hall to find the younger group still sitting at the table, drinking. Nazgurat was nowhere to be seen, but Lynne didn't care. She felt numb and more confused than ever before. She suddenly didn't want to be alone with her thoughts.

Jane watched Lynne sit down beside her and stare quietly at the table. She peered at the Nord for a while, noting that Lynne's cheeks, neck, and lips were flushed pink. Her long-braided hair looked a little more frazzled than when she had just seen her not long before.

Lynne let out a small breath, feeling eyes on her, and she met Jane's gaze. The healer realized Jane could see right through her, but neither one of them said anything. Ahmon and Bo chatted with one another, completely oblivious to the silent exchange that went on beside them. Lynne ordered another drink, and she was content to just sit at the table, sipping on an ale, until everybody finally retired to their rooms for the rest of the night.

Nazgurat lay in complete darkness in his bed, thinking about Lynne. He had wanted to do more than just kiss her, and it had been almost physically painful to stop when he did. He hadn't felt such an attraction to anybody in a long time, and he was struggling with a mess of emotions inside of himself. Emotions he thought he had bottled up and thrown away a very long time ago. But since meeting Lynne, something inside of him had stirred. Something that made him want to be a better person, which previously, he hadn't really thought about it. The Orc had been wandering around Skyrim for several years now, completely lost.

Now that he had met Lynne something had changed. She was deeply hurt; that part was obvious, but there was a strong and capable woman somewhere inside. He desperately wanted to get to know that woman, and that was his explanation for pushing her the way he did.

You've proven you're a right ass... he thought quietly as he scratched his stubbly chin. Now you have to prove you can be more than that.

With that final thought, Naz turned onto his side and closed his eyes. He drifted to sleep and dreamt of a tall Nord woman with white hair and ice blue eyes who healed the sick.